DLR fleet to be upgraded after TfL board heeds warnings over risk to service levels

Image: TfLTrain builders are being invited to submit bids for a new generation of Docklands Light Railway trains which would enter service from 2022.

The new fleet of walk-through trains would feature air-conditioning and USB ports, allowing passengers to charge their mobile devices while travelling, and boost capacity by over 30 per cent.

In March TfL board members were asked to approve the purchase of the new trains, with agency managers warning that passengers faced worsening service levels if the investment wasn’t made.

Danny Price, TfL’s Director of DLR, said: “These new trains will enable us to increase capacity on the DLR by 30 per cent, significantly improving the comfort, reliability and quality of our service for customers.

“Ordering them now ensures that we get the best value for money in the long term and can support continuing growth in east London.

“We intend to go out to tender later this year with the new trains entering service from 2022.”